Lions Beat Nederland 21 to 16, LIVINGSTON, October 9, 2010 - On October 8, 2010, the Livingston Lions Varsity Football Team lined up and beat the Nederland Bulldogs 21 to 16 in a game that kept Lion fans glued to their seats until the last minute of the game. The Lions won the opening coin toss and elected to receive the ball. After the kickoff, on the first play from scrimmage, Devon Barnes took a handoff from Quarterback Chevoski Collins and rumbled down the sideline 87 yards for the touchdown (see the Highlight Reel and Play of the Week and look for # 28). On this night, Devon Barnes stepped up and did it all. Quarterback sacks, an interception, blocking and running, Barnes was a one man show on a cohesive team that featured other shining stars.

Passing Game Comes to Life...Head Coach Randy Rowe and his offensive staff had the Lion offense balanced and ready as Collins passed early. Collins passed effectively for big gains. The passing game kept the Bulldog defense honest as they had to honor the run and the pass. The passing game was a compliment to a running game that no team has been able to yet stop....but the Bulldogs were trying. Their defensive line was stopping our runners on this night, but not completely. I simply don't see any team being able to bottle up a backfield that features Devon Barnes, Antonio White, Devonte Mays, and Chevoski Collins. Yes, the Bulldogs stopped our running on many plays...but if you're going to beat the Lions, many isn't good enough. As always, the runners stepped up...even in the face of a defense intent on stopping the run. "Pound the Rock"...(and the rock will eventually break).

Swarming Defense...The Lion defense was swarming like a nest of angry red wasps. The Bulldogs have a quarterback who looks like Jamarcus Russell and he was willing to pass. The Lion Defense intercepted three passes (Blake Burman # 12, Devon Barnes #28, Marquise Thomas # 9, see highlight reel). The defense held the Bulldogs to only a field goal in the first half to go into the locker room at halftime Lions 14, Bulldogs 3. As usual, the pass rush for the Lions made it hard for the Bulldogs to get anything going (See the highlight reel and watch # 23, # 35, # 9, # 12, # 84, # 42, # 7, # 15)...But the Bulldogs did manage to score a touchdown in the second half forcing the Lions to cling to a 4 point lead (Lions 14 - Bulldogs 10).

Second Half Becomes Defensive Struggle...The Bulldog defense stiffened up in the second half and held the Lions scoreless for most of the half. With only around 2 minutes left, the game got interesting. The Lions were nursing a 4 point lead and had driven to the Bulldog 26. The Lions were staring a 4th down and 8 yards to go for a first (I think it was 8 yards). The Lions called a time out, after a sideline huddle with the coaches, they came out, lined up to snap the ball, and then the Bulldogs called timeout (another sideline huddle). With the crowd hanging on to the edges of their seats, the Lions lined up and out of the shotgun formation, Quarterback Chevoski Collins kept the ball and ran to his left blazing down the left sideline 26 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory for the Lions. The importance of that touchdown was enormous. Had the ball turned over on downs, there was a good chance the Bulldogs would have driven down the field and scored a touchdown giving them a 3 point lead with almost no time left on the clock handing the Lions a second loss and a record of 1 and 2 in district play.

Interesting to the End...On the ensuing kickoff the Bulldogs did manage to drive the ball down the field for a touchdown making the score 21 - 16 (afterwards the Bulldogs failed to capitalize on a 2 point conversion). With about 1 minute left in the game the Bulldogs tried an onside kick that they nearly recovered but Antonio White came up with the ball. The Lions then sat on the ball for one play and watched the clock expire to finish a thriller of a game.

2010 Lions Have Character...The 2010 Lions are one fake punt away from being a perfect 6 and 0. When the game is on the line, the Lions seem to be at their best. They've stepped up time after time this year and delivered. Their only blemish came against Beaumont Central last week when they appeared to have had that game sealed but got fooled on a fake punt that allowed Central to sustain a drive to tie the game and squeak out a win in overtime. Next week the Lions will be playing Lumberton and are due to beat the Raiders. Last year we lost to Lumberton in a thriller that went down to the wire. You can bet that Rowe will have his men up for this game. Lumberton is not very far, so if you're not working that night, you have no excuse. Come out and support the Lions.

Willie Openshaw

Brothers in Arms: Head Coach Randy Rowe leads his men into the Locker Room.

Devon Barnes leaves hapless Bulldogs in the dust as he took the handoff and ran 87 yards on the opening play from scrimmage.

Quarterback Chevoski Collins came out throwing.

Cassity Land stuffs a ball carrier.

Lion Defenders dog pile a ball carrier.

Chevoski Collins looks to pass.

Devon Barnes spent a good part of the evening in the Bulldog backfield and recorded multiple sacks.

Ryan McClain leaves it all on the field in every game.

Antonio White may be the smallest man on the team, but is pound for pound the toughest Lion.

A blatant pass interference that wasn't called had Coach Randy Rowe quaking...

...the refs didn't have a good night...

...the refs blew a call that was clearly a fumble, they missed a blatant pass interference, and there were several late hits that weren't called.

Cassity Land (# 15) tipped a Bulldog pass...

...The pass ended up in front of an opportunistic Marquise Thomas (# 9)...

...Interception complete with a 10 yard return by Marquise Thomas.

Antonio White exploits a hole.

Chevoski Collins drops back to pass.

Chevoski Collins sealed the game on a 4th and 8 when he kept the ball and ran 26 yards for the score.

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